The decline of the "New Hamsphire Advantage": Part I

Where is Barry Lynn when you need him? The liberals are mixing state and religion again -- this time in New Hampshire. But there's no outcry. Why? Because the media wants it that way. Today the media begins its campaign to chip away at the NH Tax Advantage by giving some play to a liberal swarm known as the Granite State Fair Tax Coalition. Taking the pledge against taxes in New Hampshire is immoral say the liberation theologists.

CONCORD – They came not to praise but to bury the pledge against broad-based taxes in New Hampshire.

The Granite State Fair Tax Coalition kicked off an ambitious three-year campaign to build support at the local level to urge the Legislature to keep an open mind when it comes to fundamental change of the state tax structure.

The first goal of the group is to bring their message and encourage a healthy debate at churches, public libraries and town halls across the state according to David Lamarre-Vincent, the group’s president.

"We are here to declare the good news in New Hampshire," said Lamarre-Vincent who is executive director of the state Council of Churches.Other member organizations include the American Friends Service Committee, the League of Women Voters and societies for the Unitarian and United Church of Christ Churches.
The Democracy of New Hampshire, World Fellowship Center and Women Making a Difference are also supporting the group.

Coalition officials stressed they would not advocate a specific tax and will not lobby the legislative or executive branches of state government.

Group leaders acknowledge they are getting organized right after an election in which Democrats won sweeping victories, but only in part because they abandoned any desire to impose a sales or income tax.

“We are pointing towards 2008. We recognize that influencing the Legislature in 2007 is not a winning strategy, but the debate over an adequate education we believe is going to lead to a meaningful discussion of tax reform down the road,’’ said Mark Fernald, the group’s treasurer and 2002 nominee for governor.

Gov. John Lynch has recently repeated his vow to veto either tax.

Nice sentiment Governor, but don't tell us the election of a Democratic majority in New Hampshire hasn't emboldened the liberals to start a push for new taxes. The Kerry "victory" in 2004 in the Granite state and now the vastly energized Democratic majority in Concord leads one to think they everything that's sacred like the Pledge is on the table.

The devolution of New Hamsphire into a Blue State courtesty of the influx of Massachusetts residents will wreak havoc over the long term.

Meanwhile, I have a question for the pro-tax Democrats: Can you guarantee that new income or sales taxes will stop the rise in property taxes?

I bet they can't make such a "pledge."